Water chiefs hold talks over crypto

Water bosses are gathering in Preston on Tuesday to discuss what lessons the industry has learned from last summer’s cryptosporidium scare in Lancashire.

Even though the source of the contamination is still a closely-guarded secret exactly six months on, the Consumer Council for Water is holding its board meeting at a hotel badly affected by the month-long alert.

The crypto crisis will top the agenda as representatives from United Utilities, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water meet with the water watchdog at the Marriott in Broughton.

The recent floods will also be up for discussion. The meeting, which opens at 10.30am, will be open to the public.

“We will be looking at good practice in preventing and managing water quality issues following the cryptosporidium incident which affected more than 300,000 household customers and many businesses in Lancashire for several weeks last summer,” said Alan Lovell, chair of CCWater.

An investigation into the cause of the contamination was launched by the Drinking Water Inspectorate in August and is still continuing.

The inquiry has centred on the Franklaw water treatment plant near Garstang.